Yaya DaCosta

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Yaya DaCosta (born November 15, 1982) is an American actress and model. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. DaCosta eventually went on to star in ABC's daytime drama series All My Children (2008), ABC's comedy-drama Ugly Betty (2009), and NBC's medical drama Chicago Med (2015–2022).

In 2010, she appeared in Lisa Cholodenko's film The Kids Are All Right, being nominated with the cast at the Critics' Choice Movie Award and at the Gotham Award. DaCosta starred in the Lifetime television film Whitney (2015) as singer Whitney Houston and received praise for her performance being nominated at the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series.[1]

Early life and education

DaCosta was born on November 15, 1982. She was raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.[2][3] She is an African-American with an Afro-Brazilian grandfather. In addition to English, she speaks Portuguese.[4] She attended the elite Northfield Mount Hermon School during high school before attending Brown University, where she majored in Africana studies and international relations.[5]

Career

After being the runner-up on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model, DaCosta went on to have a successful career.[6] DaCosta appeared once in the bottom two during the competition. She appeared in advertisements for Garnier Fructis, Lincoln Townhouse, Oil of Olay, Radioshack, Seda, Sephora and Dr. Scholl's. She graced the covers of numerous magazines, including W,[7] Hype Hair,[8] Splash and Global Modeling. In 2014, she landed a spot in Tom Ford’s Fall/Winter advertising campaign.[9] DaCosta began acting in 2005 after guest-starring in an episode of the UPN sitcom Eve.[10] She starred opposite Rob Brown, Antonio Banderas and Alfre Woodard in the 2006 dance film Take the Lead.[11] DaCosta had supporting roles in the independent films Honeydripper (2007) and The Messenger (2009).

She appeared in the ABC soap opera All My Children in 2008 as Cassandra Foster, the daughter of Angie Hubbard (Debbi Morgan).[12] According to an interview with All My Children's new head writer, Charles Pratt, Jr., DaCosta left the role some time in August 2008, less than four months after joining the show, to join the cast of The First Breeze of Summer on Broadway. The First Breeze of Summer was presented from 2008 to 2009 by the Negro Ensemble Company.[13] In 2009, she had a recurring role as Nico Slater, the daughter of Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) in the fourth and final season of the ABC comedy-drama series Ugly Betty.[14]

In 2010, DaCosta had supporting roles in the comedy-drama film The Kids Are All Right and the science fiction action-adventure film Tron: Legacy. Later, she appeared in magazines, including on the cover of W (September 2010),[15] in L'Officiel (in November 2010),[16] and in Vogue (in January 2011 by Patrick Demarchelier).[17] In 2013, she appeared as Carol in the historical drama film The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.[18]

File:DaCosta Nice Guys.jpg
DaCosta in 2016 at the premiere of The Nice Guys

In 2015, ann interview with actress Angela Bassett on CNN revealed that DaCosta would star as musical icon Whitney Houston in a Lifetime television film about her life, which was Bassett's directorial debut. DaCosta received high praise for her performance.[19]

From 2015 to 2021, DaCosta starred in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med as April Sexton, an ED nurse.[20] On May 14, 2021, DaCosta announced that she was leaving Chicago Med after six seasons, and before her exit she would be joining Fox's drama series Our Kind of People in the lead role;[21][22] the new series was cancelled after 12 episodes.[23] DaCosta was a main character on The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 and season 3. She departed the cast ahead of season 4, which began filming in February 2025.[24]

Personal life

DaCosta was in a relationship with independent film producer and director Joshua Bee Alafia from 2012 to 2015. In September 2013, she gave birth to their son, Sankara. In November 2015, it was reported that DaCosta and Alafia broke up. Contrary to popular reports, DaCosta and Alafia were never officially married.[25]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Take the Lead LaRhette
2007 Honeydripper China Doll
2009 Template:Sortname Monica Washington
2010 Template:Sortname Tanya
Tron: Legacy Siren
Lost and Found - Short film
2011 In Time Greta
Whole Lotta Sole Sophie [26]
The Shanghai Hotel Kendra
2013 Mother of George Sade
Big Words Annie
The Butler Carol Hammie
2014 And So It Goes Kennedy
2016 The Nice Guys Tally
2019 Peel Sarah
Bolden Nora Bolden
2025 Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story Monique Smith Lifetime movie

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 America's Next Top Model Cycle 3; Contestant Runner-up
2005 Eve Ms. Jenkins Episode: "Prom Night"
2008 Racing for Time Vanessa TV movie
All My Children Cassandra Foster Recurring role
2009 Ugly Betty Nico Slater Recurring role (season 4)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Audrina Episode: "Anchor"
2010 Mercy Brooke Sullivan Episode: "There Is No Room for You on My Ass"
Army Wives Specialist Amber Stiles Episode: "AWOL"
2011 Body of Proof Holly Bennett Episode: "Helping Hand"
Weekends at Bellevue Vanessa TV movie
2011–2012 House Anita 2 episodes
2012 Dark Horse Amy TV movie
2014 Unforgettable Molly McGinty Episode: "Cashing Out"
2015 The Simpsons Princess Kemi (voice) Episode: "The Princess Guide"
Whitney Whitney Houston TV movie
2015–2021 Chicago Fire April Sexton 12 episodes, crossover cast
2015–2022 Chicago Med Main cast (seasons 1–6); Recurring role (season 8)
2017, 2019 Chicago P.D. 3 episodes, crossover cast
2018 Faith Under Fire Kendra TV movie
2021–2022 Our Kind of People Angela Vaughn Main cast
2023–2024 The Lincoln Lawyer Andrea "Andy" Freeman Recurring role (season 2); Main cast (season 3)

Music videos

Year Title Artist
2005 "Gold Digger" Kanye West
2006 "Pullin' Me Back" Chingy
2007 "Beautiful Girls" Sean Kingston
"Roc Boys" Jay-Z
2011 "Good Man" Raphael Saadiq

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Film Result
2006 Teen Choice Award Movies – Choice Breakout (Female) Take the Lead Template:Nom
2008 Black Reel Awards Best Ensemble Honeydripper Template:Nom
2010 Gotham Awards Best Ensemble Cast The Kids Are All Right Template:Nom
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Ensemble Acting Template:Nom
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards Best Acting Ensemble Template:Nom
2011 Black Reel Award Best Breakthrough Performance Template:Nom
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Acting Ensemble Template:Nom
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Best Ensemble Template:Nom
2016 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series Whitney Template:Nom [27]

References

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External links

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